In a recent twist, leaked texts allegedly from Elon Musk have given insight into his awkward exchange with Nicolai Tangen, the CEO of Norway’s $1.7 million sovereign wealth fund. The exchange, which was revealed by Norwegian newspaper E24 under freedom-of-information laws, highlights some tension between Musk and Tangen, particularly over a rejected Tesla pay package.

The Tesla Pay Package Rejection

The controversy began back in June of 2024, when Tangen’s company, Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), rejected a compensation deal for Elon Musk. The deal, which was valued at $56 billion at the time, has now reportedly grown to a staggering $100 billion. NBIM, one of Tesla’s ten largest shareholders, declined the proposal, which reportedly didn’t sit well with Elon Musk.

As a result, Tangen invited Musk to join other CEOs, including Ferrari’s head honchos and executives from Nestlé, Adidas, DoorDash, and Novo Nordisk, for a dinner in Oslo. Musk, however, had other plans. He apparently turned down the dinner invitation, citing that it would be “too expensive” for him to attend, according to the leaked messages.

Elon Musk’s Unfiltered Response

In what could be described as a rather blunt message, Elon Musk allegedly responded to Tangen, saying, “This would be very difficult and expensive for me to attend.” He then added, “When I ask you for a favor, which I very rarely do, and you decline, then you should not ask me for one until you’ve done something above nothing to make amends. Friends are as friends do.”

It’s clear from the message that Elon Musk wasn’t pleased with how things had played out between the two, particularly in regard to the rejected pay package. His words suggest that he was expecting something more from Tangen, especially given the close relationship between Tesla and NBIM, which holds a significant stake in the electric car company.

The Fallout: Private Texts Leaked

Shortly after these messages were exchanged, another layer of drama unfolded. Musk reportedly received messages from an unnamed individual, accusing Tangen of leaking private text conversations to the media. This led to public speculation that Tangen had revealed Musk wouldn’t be attending the dinner, potentially causing an uncomfortable situation it.

Tangen, in response, denied detailing the private messages to the press. He explained that it was his communications department that released the information. Still, Tangen expressed regret over the situation, apologizing for any inconvenience caused, though he maintained that the whole affair hadn’t reflected badly on Musk.

Musk and the Struggles of Tesla

Amid this tension, another story about Musk has resurfaced, drawing attention to the early struggles of Tesla. In a 2020 tweet, Musk revealed that Tesla had once been just one month away from bankruptcy. Responding to an “On This Day” post about Tesla’s $40 million loan in 2008 to avoid going under, Musk admitted, “Closest we got was about a month.”

This candid admission highlights just how far Tesla has come since its near-collapse, and it also serves as a reminder of the hurdles Musk faced in building the electric car giant into the most valuable automaker in the world.

What’s Next for Musk and Tangen?

As for Musk and Tangen, the fallout from their interaction remains a bit of a mystery. Whether the two will patch things up remains to be seen. However, Musk’s directness and Tangen’s regret seem to indicate that things could take a while to smooth over.

In the meantime, Tesla’s success continues to soar, and Musk’s no-holds-barred approach to business remains a defining feature of his character. Despite the drama, one thing is clear: when it comes to Elon Musk, there’s never a dull moment.